Amazon’s palm-payment technology, Amazon One, is expanding rapidly, aiming to provide convenience but also raising privacy concerns. Originally introduced in 2020, this system allows users to pay by scanning their palm at checkout. It’s currently available in various locations, including Whole Foods, gyms, airports, and Amazon Style fashion stores. Panera Bread is also adopting it.
Amazon One identifies users through the vein structure in their palms, sending encrypted data to a secure server. However, this has sparked debates about privacy. Unlike systems like Apple’s Face ID or Samsung Pass, Amazon One uploads biometric data to the cloud, which has led U.S. senators to express security concerns.
Moreover, there are fears of personal data sharing and potential hacking risks, given Amazon’s history with data storage and selling biometric systems. Experts warn that convenience may compromise privacy and consent, emphasizing the need for discussions about biometrics’ reliability and protecting user data.
